Manchester Congestion Charges
Congestion charges a reality for Manchester by 2012.
Plans have recently been unveiled that motorists in Manchester could face a daily congestion charge of up to £5 per day to drive in and out of the city on the busiest motoring routes at peak times.
The proposed scheme would see motorists paying for an electric tag for their cars, which will monitor motorists journeys on at least 15 main routes into the city in peak morning drive times between 07:00 to 09:30 and evening rush traffic hours from 16:00 to 18;30.
The scheme, proposed by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities still requires government approval and the Manchester Authorities have suggested that they will undetake a public consultation before any plans are submitted. If successful this could lead to a defined timetable being introduced and it has been suggested that the scheme could be in operation by as early as 2012.
A direct consequence of the Manchester scheme could lead the way for a number of other similar schemes in major cities throughout the UK. There are currently 10 major UK cities, of which Manchester is one, who have been granted government funding to implement congestion charge schemes.
As always there are two sides to the argument with opponents to the proposal claiming the announcement is "bad news for drivers across Britain".
